Drastic light theft cut in Alligator Pond

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that there has been a drastic reduction in electricity theft in the southern Manchester village of Alligator Pond.

Home to approximately 800 households, the JPS said in 2016 Alligator Pond had only 327 active customer accounts when it moved in to curb widespread electricity theft and unsafe practices.

But according to the light and power company, more residents are now moving to regularise their electricity.

David Lewis, JPS Operations and Field Service Manager, says since the implementation of an innovative anti-theft project in the community, electricity theft has been cut.

The project includes the installation of relatively inaccessible concentric cables and a power tough metering system which made it more difficult to tamper with meters.

“Before we implemented the project, we were losing over 15,000 kilowatt hours per month in Alligator Pond. After the project, we made significant progress and are now losing less than 10 per cent of that figure,” Lewis said.

He said Alligator Pond was selected for the project because of the density of illegal connections and the safety risk that existed.

The initiative has also benefited significantly from the actions of concerned JPS customers in the community who wanted to see an end to unsafe illegal connections.

"We had a town hall meeting and persons were concerned about the illegal connections which were posing a danger to residents going about their business, and now we are getting phone calls from persons saying that they are really happy that we are implementing this project in Alligator Pond. Because what they are concerned with is safety and also that they are paying and others are not paying,” Lewis said.

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